Busch Brews Fantastic Finish

Hulbert Leads Sutton By 1, Simpson By 2 At Kingsmill

JAMES CITY (COUNTY) — Mike Hulbert says it's just another day. Hal Sutton sees six months of intense work finally coming to fruition. Tim Simpson says, with a wry grin, not to bet on him.

Those are the mindsets of the top three contenders entering today's final round of the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic at Kingsmill.

Hulbert, with one career victory in five years, shot a 3-under-par 68 Saturday for a 54-hole total of 14-under 199, one shot better than Sutton, two ahead of Simpson.

Roger Maltbie and Tim Norris are another shot back at 11-under. Kingsmill's Curtis Strange put himself onto the fringe of contention with a 5-under 66 and trails Hulbert by six.

Hulbert had chances to pad his advantage Saturday, but missed makeable birdie putts on holes 10-14.

"Three of the five looked like they had good chances of going in," Hulbert said. "But they didn't. It got a little frustrating. But I can't complain. I haven't been in this position too often."

Hulbert won the 1986 Federal Express-St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn. But the only time he led the tournament was after a birdie-3 on the final hole.

"I think I've learned about final rounds just by being in the hunt enough times," Hulbert said. "I just look at it as another day. ... Maybe the putts will go in tomorrow."

Hulbert reached the par-5 3rd hole in two shots Saturday and two-putted for birdie. He made a 15-footer at the par-4 4th and a 4-footer at the par-4 9th for his other birdies. He parred the final nine holes.

Hulbert's most shaky moment on the back-nine was at the par-5 15th, where he pushed his tee shot right. But he pitched back to the fairway, made the green in regulation and 2-putted for par.

Sutton was tied with Hulbert at 14-under before a bogey-5 on the 18th hole. He hit a poor drive into an upslope 215 yards short of the green, left a 3-wood approach in the right bunker, blasted out to four feet and missed the putt.

"There were quite a few distractions on the tee," Sutton said. "We had to wait, and everybody out (in the James River) had had a few pops. The speed boats were racing to see who had the loudest engine. That's a tough tee shot in the first place."

Sutton, the PGA Tour's Player of the Year in 1983, won the last of his seven tournaments in 1986. He made significant swing changes after a poor '88 and liked his position after Saturday's 6-under 65.

"I've worked very hard and hopefully that work will pay off," Sutton said. "If it doesn't pay off tomorrow, it will eventually. ... I think it's good to have butterflies, a little anticipation about what's going to happen to you.

"If that doesn't happen, I'd say maybe you should walk back in because you've already done the best you can do."

Sutton birdied the par-4 1st hole from 20 feet, two-putted for birdie at No. 3, made a 4-footer for birdie at the par-5 7th and birdied the 9th from 20 feet. He rifled a 6-iron to within four inches on the par-3 13th and birdied the par-4 14th from eight feet.

"There were so many guys between 7-under and the lead, and since there was no wind, I made up my mind this morning that I would need a low round to put myself into position," Sutton said. "This was not the kind of day where a 69 would put you in contention."

Simpson, No. 12 on the money list this season and winner of the USF&G Classic, had five birdies and a bogey in his round of 67. He made short birdie putts at the 3rd and par-4 6th before an unsteady 9th.

"I cold missed it off the tee," Simpson said. "I hit a terrible second shot into the right bunker."

Simpson blasted out to within 10 feet and missed the putt.

He recovered quickly with an 8-foot birdie putt at the par-4 11th and a 1-footer at the par-4 12th. He also birdied the par-4 16th, from 15 feet.

Simpson, a friend of Hulbert's, was asked about Hulbert's game.

"He's a real good putter and a fantastic wedge player," Simpson said. "He has great touch around the greens. If it comes down to a putt on the last hole tomorrow between me and him, you might want to bet on him."

Betting can be hazardous at Kingsmill, where three Busch champions since '83 have come from six strokes back in the final round. Twenty-four players enter today's round within six shots, including Strange, Calvin Peete, Peter Jacobsen, J.C. Snead and Scott Hoch.

BEST OF THE DAY

Best start: Scott Hoch birdied his first three holes en route to a 35 on the front nine.

Best shot: Mike Hulbert's third shot on the 8th hole. He was left of the bunker, above the trap and the ball bounced once hitting the pin and ended up eight inches from the hole.

Best turnaround cf27Curt Byrum shot 39 on the front nine, but recovered with 31 on the back nine.